Page 26 - CAPPARIS_2006

Volume 93, Number 1 Inocencio et al. 147
2006 Revision of Capparis Sect. Capparis

Frutices erecti, usque ad 2 m; stipulis decurrentibus, at the rank of variety or subspecies have been here
similibus rosaris; foliis rotundis–obcordatis, rarius ovatis, (2– recognized as species or subspecies. One of the
4 cm longis, 2–4 cm latis), apice emarginatis vel obtusis
a Capparis aegyptia differt. In memoriam Michaelis Zohary reasons for the synthetic approach of Jacobs (1965) or
dicata. Zohary (1960) is the relative frequency of intermedi-
ate individuals in herbarium specimens that obscure
Shrub erect, glabrous; twigs straight, 6 erect, up to the clear distinction among species. We refer to most
2 m long, green to reddish purple, older twigs bluish of these as hybrid individuals, as revealed by our
due to a waxy covering; internodes 1–5 cm; stipules fieldwork in the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa
curved, retrorse, strongly decurrent, rose type, orange, (Inocencio, 2001).
0.3–0.6 cm long, 0.3–0.4 cm wide at the base. Leaves
Hybrids have been reported from different areas
rounded to obcordate, rarely ovate, 2–4 3 2–4 cm, in which presumably hybrid swarms occur between
somewhat fleshy; leaf veins not prominent; base two different Capparis species growing together.
rounded, sometimes cordate, apices rounded or Hybrids are frequent in Iraq and neighboring
slightly obcordate; mucro absent or very small, 0.1– countries of the Near East (Blakelock & Townsend,
0.5 mm; petioles short, 0.7–1 cm. Flower buds 1980), shadowing the distinction between species.
rounded; floral pedicels thick and long, 3–5 cm; The most relevant interspecific hybrid, for its
flowers slightly zygomorphic; abaxial (odd) sepal economic uses, is C. spinosa, which is also the type
slightly galeate, 1.5–1.7 cm long, 0.6–0.9 cm deep; ‘‘species’’ of the genus. It occurs spontaneously in
stamens 30 to 80, anthers 1.3–1.5 mm, with round
populations of C. orientalis growing close to those
apices. Fruit oblong, pulp yellow; ripe seeds brown, of C. sicula in the western Mediterranean (Inocencio,
3.4–3.8 3 3–3.2 3 2–2.2 mm. 2001). Only this nothotaxon has been widely taken
into cultivation. There have been no reported in-
Illustrations. Figure 14 in Zohary (1966: 358).
tersectional hybrids within Capparis subgenus Cap-
Phenology. Flowering and fruiting from March to
paris, although Capparis ovata subsp. myrtifolia
October.
seems to be an intermediate between C. ovata subsp.
Distribution and habitat. Mediterranean Region.
ovata and C. inermis and, therefore, presumably
Mediterranean Europe, North Africa, Middle East into
their hybridogen. Capparis ovata is here restricted to
Turkey [Algeria, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon,
the Algerian type and those populations closely
Morocco, Spain, Syria, Turkey]. Walls, rocks,
related in morphology that extend from Morocco to
pronounced slopes, at elevations from 0 to 200 m,
Chad.
often in the vicinity of human dwellings. Figure 4.
The large complex of Mediterranean and Irano-
Paratypes. ALGERIA. Chiffa, Blida, Davis 59527 Turanian taxa formerly subordinated to Capparis
(E). EGYPT. S.l., N. Tadmor & A. Shmida S-420 (E); Sinai, spinosa is here combined under C. sicula because
Bove ´ 273 (K). GREECE. Samos, W. Barbey 653 (E). this is the name available according to the principle of
SPAIN. Murcia: El Llano del Beal, Alcaraz, Rivera & Obo ´n
48733 (MUB). ISRAEL. Ein Gedi, O. B. Lyschede 9/99/71 priority.
(C); Kfar Gileh y Manara, Curle 65 (K); Manara, C. M. Curle
143 (E); Mount Gilboa, Davis 4667 (E); Wadi Qelt, Davis
3654 (E); Wadi Yarmuk, Davis 4604 (E). JORDAN. South Literature Cited
of Rum Rest House, Jallad et al. 7636 (E); Wadi Ali, S. & S. Jafri. 1977. Capparaceae. Pp. 1–20 in S. Jafri &
Mujib, Ma’daba, L. Boulos 5856 (K). LEBANON. Beirut,
S. Ali (editors), Flora of Libya, Vol. XII. Al Faateh
s.n. (E). MOROCCO. Safi, 20 June 1999, Inocencio 60025
University, Tripoli.
(MUB). SYRIA. AI ¨ n Dara, Rivera & Obo ´n 60049 (MUB); Anonymous. 2005. CBD Strategy and Action Plan—Tajiki-
Damascus, Rivera & Obo ´n 60048 (MUB); Maaraba, Rivera stan, Part IV [English version]. vhttp://www.biodiv.org/
& Obo ´n 60046 (MUB); Palmyra, Rivera & Obo ´n 60051 doc/world/tj/tj-nbsap-01-p04-en.pdf>.
(MUB); Ugarit, Rivera & Obo ´n 60045 (MUB). TURKEY.
Bauhin, J., J. Cherler & D. Chabrey. 1651. Historia
Adana, E. K. Balls 119 (E); Alanya, Baytop 9701 (E); plantarum universalis, Vol. II. Yverdon.
Antalya, Smith 4 (K).
Benchelah, A. C., H. Bouziane, M. Maka & C. Ouahes. 2000.
Fleurs du Sahara. Ed. Ibis Press, Paris.
Bentham, G. & J. D. Hooker. 1862. Genera plantarum,
DISCUSSION Vol. I. Reeve, London.
von Bieberstein, M. A. 1808. Flora Taurico-Caucasica,
This paper introduces changes in the Capparis sect. Vol. II. Typis Academicis, Charkouiae.
Capparis taxonomy adopted by authors such as Zohary ———. 1819. Flora Taurico-Caucasica, Vol. III. Suppl.
(1960), who organized the diversity within this section Typis Academicis, Charkouiae.
Blakelock, R. A. & C. C. Townsend. 1980. Capparidaceae.
around two core species, viz. Capparis spinosa and C.
Pp. 139–145 in C. C. Townsend & E. Guest (editors), Flora
ovata. Most of the endemic taxa that previously were of Iraq, Vol. IV, Part I. Ministry of Agriculture & Agrarian
subordinated to one or the other of the above species Reform, Baghdad.